Tape package



Oct. 8, 1963 H, V, BOLDlNG 3,106,288

TAPE PACKAGE Filed Aug. 24, .1961

I IIIIII- (galli 9 INVENTOR,

HUBERT v. BOLDING BY WAM/MGZ mug United States Patent 3,106,288 TAPE PACKAGE Hubelt V. Bolding, Memphis, Tenn., assigner to Packaging Developments, Inc., Memphis, Tenn. Filed Aug. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 133,620 11 Claims. (Cl. 206;-52)

This invention relates to an improved package of the type adapted for holding and dispensing rolls` of tape and the like.

The above mentioned type of package generally consists of a center portion and a sleeve in-to which the tape is inserted. This center portion extends through theV hole in the center of the tape and provides a means for rrotat# ably retaining the tape in the sleeve. Heretofore, this center portion was generally formed by interlocking tabs or the like which had `to be manually folded and joined together to form the center portion. At factories where the tape is packaged after it comes olf of high speed machinery, it can be seen that much time is lost by the packaging personnel in folding and interlocking the tabs to establish the center portion.

The present invention is directed toward providing an improved package in which there is no lost time in folding and interlocking tabs, etc. when packing the tape into the package.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is -to provide an improved package so that the tape roll is automatically locked therein in a rotatable `use position upon insertion ofthe roll into the package.

A further object is to provide means for positively locking the tape against accidental removal.

A further object is to provide such a package that reduces considerably the packaging time for tape.

`A further object is to provide an eicient tape roll and package combination whereby the tape is easily and conveniently dispensed.

A further object is to provide a package means that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of packages.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished 'and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tape roll and package combination of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan View of a blank from which the package of the present invention is formed.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the package of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified form` of the package.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the package of FIG. 4 is formed.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the package of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the package taken as on the line VII-VII of FIG. 1 and showing the beginning of the insertion of a roll of tape therein, with the tape being shown in elevation.

FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 7 but showing thetape in a more advanced position during the insertion into the package.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 7 and 8 but showing the tape in a fully loaded position and with portions of the tape being broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken as on the line X--X of FIG. 9.

FIG. 1l is a View similar to FIG. 7 of another modified form of the present invention.

3,106,288 Patented oct. s, 1963 best illustrated in FIGS. 1*-3 and 7-10, a rectangular paper or liber board sleeve 13 which is open at opposite ends as at 15 and 17. Sleeve 13 includes a pair of oppo site main walls 1'9, 21 which are spaced apart to provide a space 23 therebetween communicating between open ends 15, 17. Walls 19, 21 are integrally interconnected at the opposite edges thereof by the narrower side walls 25, 27. Side wall 25 is preferably composed of a pair of overlapping tabs 29, 31 which are respectively preferably integrally attached to the edges of main walls 19, 21 and are secured to each other as by glue or the like.

In addition, package 11 includes a pair of substantially semi-circular aps 33, 35 that are respectively attached to mainwalls 19, 21 along the respective fold lines 37, 39. The respective edges 41, 43 of flaps 33, 35 are substantially semi-circular in shape and each extends substantially from one end of its associated fold line to the other.

Flaps 33, 35 extend into space 23 into close adjacency with one another. When the term close adjacency is used herein, it is to 'be understood to mean that the liaps 33, 35 are either in engagement with one another or are in spaced adjacency, and if in -spaced adjacency the spacing is less than the width of a roll of tape 45 with which packagevll is to be used. In other words, flaps 33, 35 extend into the path of movement of tape 45 into sleeve V13, as will be more fully understood in the description to `away from open end 15 to provide sloping surfaces 47, 49

on the respective flaps 33, 35 for the roll of tape 45 to engage when inserted into space 23.

Package 11 is preferably formed from a single blank 51 such as shown in FIG. 2 where the various portions of sleeve 13 are identied'by the same reference numbers. The rectangular blank 51 is provided with suitable folding scores orparallel creases 53, 55, 57, and 59 whichintegrally interconnect tab 29 and main wall 19'; main wall 19 and side wall 27; -side wall 27 and main wall 21; and main wall 21V and tab 31, respectively. Flaps 33, 35 are preferably formed from blank 51 by making circular cuts `in main walls 19, 21 to establish edges 41, 43 and then bending the respective aps along fold lines 37, 39 toward the respective circular dotted lines 61, 63. The circular dotted 'lines `61, 63 are on the surface of blank 51 which becomes the interior of sleeve 13 when the sleeve is formed. Actually, the circular dotted lines 61, 63 need not |be actually imprinted on the blank 51, but are primarily for illustration purposes. At any rate, in forming sleeve 13 from blank 51 the aps 33, 35 are bent toward dotted lines 61, 64 and with the flaps being held adjacent the dotted lines the' blank 5.1 is folded into the form of the sleeve 13, as shown in FIG. 1, whereupon tabs 29, 31 are secured together and flaps 33, 35 are released. Flaps 33, 35 are resilient and when released will move into close adjacency with one another, as heretofore described. It will be understood that flaps 33, 35 will moveY toward one another since they have a tendency to swing back toward their original positions in apertures 65, 67 from which they were initially bent. TheY above described cutting and bending of blank 51 into sleeve,13 is pref-l erably, though not necessarily, accompli-shed by Ina-A chinery. This assembly of the package 11 is done prior to the delivery of same to the personnel for packing the tape 45 in the package 11, which will be described here- Y inafter.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that if fold lines 37, 39 were extended, they would intersect at substantially a right angle so that when the sleeve is assembled, as shown in FIG. l, the fold lines are parallel and substantially in alignment. Also, it will be noted in these figures that fold lines 37, 39 lie along the diameter of a circle that is for-med by edges 41, 43 and the respective circular dotted lines 61, 63. In addition, it should be noted that when the flaps 33, 35 are lbent as heretofore described there remains in the main walls 19, 21 the semi-circular apertures 65, 67 which are in alignment when the sleeve 13 is assembled, ias shown in FIG. l, so that these apertures can be used as hand or finger holes for grasping the package r11. Also, it will be seen that iiaps 33, 35 are in alignment with each other but are at a substantially 45 degree angle relative to open end 15.

The packing of tape 45 is done in one quick movement by the packing personnel who are supplied with the completed package and the tape 45. Thus, the tape 45 is inserted into space 23 through open end 15, as shown in FIG. 7. Continued movement of the tape 45 into sleeve 13 will cause engagement of the tape with sloping surfaces 47, 49 and Ifurther movement will cause the tape to urge flaps 33, 35 apart, as shown in FIG. 8. As soon as the central hole 69 of the tape 45 comes into alignment with flaps 33, 35, the fiaps will snap back into their original position of adjacency, as seen in FIG. 9 and will now be located in central hole 69 to prevent the tape 45 from accidentally being withdrawn from sleeve 13. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the packing personnel can obtain a very high rate of production with the us-e of the present invention.

It will be understood that the circular edges 41, 43 provide a very efficient means around which tape 45 is adapted to rotate in dispensing the tape, and it will be understood that the arcs of the circles of which edges 41, 43 form a part are slightly smaller than the inside circumference 71 of tape 45 so that tape 45 is kept substantially centered relative to sleeve 13.

In the modified package 73 of the present invention shown in FIG. 4-6, the construction thereof is substantially the same as that heretofore described for package 11 except that aps 75, 77, rather than being in alignment as flaps 33, 35 are at right angles to one another. In order to accomplish this relationship of the flaps 75, *77 above mentioned., it will be understood that the fold lines 79, S1 of the respective flaps extend parallel to one another when laid fiat in the blank 83, shown in FIG. 5, but when assembled into the package 73 the fold lines are perpendicular to each other, as yshown in FIG. 4. It will be noted that flaps 7S, 77, as was the case in the preferred embodiment, extend in a direction generally away from the open end 85 (which corresponds to open end and through which the tape 45 is adapted to be inserted. The operation of the modified package 73 is substantially the same as that heretofore described for the preferred package 11.

It will be understood that although in the preferred embodiment aps 33, 35 are shown as semi-circular iiaps, substantially in alignment with one another, and in the modified embodiment flaps 75, 77 are shown substantially at right angles to one another; other angular relationships and other shapes of the flaps may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Also, one `of the flaps may be omitted, if desired and the remaining flap arranged to extend into close adjacency with the opposite main wall. Thus, as will be seen in FIG. l1, flap 37 extends angularly from main wall 89 in a direction generally away from opening 91 into close -adjacency with main wall 93. The term close adjacency when used with the embodiment shown in FIG. ll is to be understood to mean that fiap 87 is either in engagement with main wall 93 or in spaced adjacency. Also, when only one fiap is used main wall 93 is preferably, though not necessarily, solid as shown L in FIG. ll. The operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as that heretofore described for the preferred package 11.

Frein the foregoing description it will be understood that a very efficient, simple and convenient package is provided wherein there is no lost time in folding and interlocking tabs, etc. in packing tape in the package. It will be further understood that such a package is provided wherein the tape roll is automatically locked therein in a rotatable use position upon insertion of the roll into the package.

lthough the invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity `or understanding, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A package for a roll of tape having an inside circumferential portion defining a central hole extending therethrough, said package comprising a sleeve having at least one opening, said sleeve including a pair of opposite main walls spaced apart to provide a space therebetween communicating with said opening and adapted to receive a roll of tape moved into said lspace through said opening, at least one co-planar flap attached to lone of said main walls and extending into said space in the path of movement of a roll of tape into said space, said flap having `an arced co-planar edge, said tape package having a flap contacting portion thereon adapted to be ycontacted by said flap, said fiap being normally angled from said one of said main walls in a direction generally away from Said opening and in normal engagement with said flap contacting portion to provide a sloping surface for a roll of tape to engage when inserted into said -space through said opening, said edge being normally angled from said one of said walls, said flap being resilient and urged into its normal engagement with said flap contacting portion whereby said iiap is adapted to be bent back by a roll of tape out of engagement with said flap contacting portion and then released to its normal engagement with said flap `contacting portion and extending in the central hole of the roll of tape with said edge being adapted to engage the inside circumferential portion `of a roll of tape to 'lock the tape in said sleeve and serve as a means about which the tape is adapted to be rotated.

2. A tape package comprising a sleeve having at least one opening, said sleeve including a pair `of opposite main walls spaced apart to provide a space therebetween communicating with said opening, a pair of fiat aps respectively having edges, said fiaps being respectively attached to said main walls and extending into said space in the path of movement of a roll of tape into said space, said flaps being respectively angled from said main walls in directions extending generally away from said opening to provide sloping surfaces for a roll of tape to engage when inserted into said space through said opening, said flaps Ybeing in normal engagement with each other, said flaps being resilient and being urged into normal engagement with each other whereby said flaps are adapted to be spread apart by a roll of tape and then released to their normal engagement with each other and extended in the central hole of the roll of tape to lock the tape in said sleeve and serve as a means about which the tape is adapted to be rotated.

3. The tape package of claim 2 in which each of said edges defines the arc of a circle having a diameter slightly smaller than the -diameter `of the central hole of a roll of tape adapted to be locked in said sleeve and against which the tape is adapted to be rotated.

4. The tape package of claim 2 in which said flaps are disposed in substantial alignment with one another.

5. The tape package of claim 2 in which said flaps are disposed substantially at right angles to one another.

6i. The tape package of claim 2 in which each of said edges defines at least a semi-circular portion of a circle. 7. A tape package comprising a sleeve having at least one opening, said sleeve including a pair of opposite main one opening, siad sleeve including a pair of opposite mainV `walls spaced apart to provide a space therebetween cornmunicating with said opening, "a -pair of flat flaps respecrtively attached to said main walls and extending into said space into vnormal positions` of engagement with one another, said aps being respectively angled from said walls toward fone another in directions extending generally away from said openingtop'rovide sloping surfaces 4for a roll of tape to engage when inserted into said space through said opening, `each of said flaps being characterized by a tendency to pivot toward the oppositeone of said main wallsbut being prevented ,from such pivot by engagement with the other of said flaps and yet being yieldable to pressure lfrom a roll oftape being pushed against said sloping surfaces whereby said flaps are adapted to be spread apart by a roll of tape and then released to their norml positions of engagement with one another in the central hole of the roll of tape to lock the tape -in said sleeve.

l0. A package comprising a ro'll of tape, said roll of tape having an inside circumferential portion dening a central hole extending therethrough, a sleeve .formed from a flat substantially rectangular blank and comprising a and being urged into said normal engagement with one Y pair of oppositely disposed main walls with said pair of main walls including la liirst main Wall and a second main wal-l, apair of side walls perpendicularly disposed to and interconnecting opposite edges of said pair of main walls and defining a structure having a substantially rectangular opening extending therethrough, the dimensions of said pair of main walls and said pair of side walls deiining said rectangular opening being slightly greater than the diameter and thickness dimensions of said roll of tape, -a iirst semi-circular iiap integrally formed .from

said tirst main wall with Isaid first semi-circular llap having an arced edge slightly smaller than said inside circumferential portion of said roll of tape, said rst semicircular Vflap having .a tirst fold line diagonally disposed in said first main wall and said lirst semi-circular ilap being doubled back at said-first fold line towards said iirst mainwall and between said pair of main walls, a second semi-circular ap integrally formed from said second main wall with said second semi-circular flap having an arced edge slightly smaller Ythan said inside circumferential portion of said roll of tape, saidsecond semicircular flap having -a second fold line Idiagonally disposed in said second main wall and said Vsecond semicircular flap being doubled back vat said second fold line towards lsaid second main wall and between said pair of main walls, said arced edges of each of said -rst and second 'semi-circular flaps being diagonally ldisposed with and contiguous to said inside circumferential portion of .said roll of tape. l

v oppositely disposed main walls, a pair of side walls per- 9. A package for a roll of tape having an inside circumferential portion defining a central hole extending therethrough,'said package comprising a sleeve lhaving at least one opening, said sleeve including a pair ofopposite main walls spaced apart toprovide aspace therebetween communicating with said opening and adapted toreceive a roll of tape moved into `said space through said f opening, locking means interposed between said main walls and normally extending across a major portion of the distance therebetween,y said locking means including at least one flat iiap, said tiap being normally angled from said one of said main walls in a direction generally away from said opening to provide a sloping surface for a roll of tape to engage when inserted into said'space through said opening, said flap being resilient whereby said flap is adapted to be bent back by a roll of tape and then released to its normal extended position in the central hole of the roll `of tapewhen the central hole of the tape aligns with said ap so that sai-d tape is held in a locked position, said tl-ap having an arced edge contiguous -to the inside circumferential portion Vof the roll of tape when the tape is in said locked position whereby the tape is adapted to be rotated about said edge for the dispensing thereof.

pendioularly disposed to and interconnecting opposite edges of saidrpair of main walls and defining la structure having a substantially rectangular opening extending vtherethrough with the 4dimensions of said pair of main walls and said pair of side walls defining said rectangular opening being slightly greater than the lrespective diameter and thickness dimensions of .said roll -of tape, a sernicircular flap integrally formed Ifrom lat least :one main wall of said pair of main walls with Isaid semi-circular Vliap having an arced edge slightly smaller than said inside Y References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,727,674 Rous Dec. 20, 1955 2,767,833 Hedin Oct. 23, 1956 2,814,385 Stone Nov. 26, 1957 Y 2,904,170 Hennessey et al Sept. 15, 1959 Monroe Sept. 19, 1961 

2. A TAPE PACKAGE COMPRISING A SLEEVE HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING, SAID SLEEVE INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSITE MAIN WALLS SPACED APART TO PROVIDE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPENING, A PAIR OF FLAT FLAPS RESPECTIVELY HAVING EDGES, SAID FLAPS BEING RESPECTIVELY ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN WALLS AND EXTENDING INTO SAID SPACE IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF A ROLL OF TAPE INTO SAID SPACE, SAID FLAPS BEING RESPECTIVELY ANGLED FROM SAID MAIN WALLS IN DIRECTIONS EXTENDING GENERALLY AWAY FROM SAID OPENING TO PROVIDE SLOPING SURFACES FOR A ROLL OF TAPE TO ENGAGE WHEN INSERTED INTO SAID SPACE THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID FLAPS BEING IN NORMAL ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER, SAID FLAPS BEING RESILIENT AND BEING URGED INTO NORMAL ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER WHEREBY SAID FLAPS ARE ADAPTED TO BE SPREAD APART BY A ROLL OF TAPE AND THEN RELEASE TO THEIR NORMAL ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND EXTENDED IN THE CENTRAL HOLE OF THE ROLL OF TAPE TO LOCK THE TAPE IN SAID SLEEVE AND SERVE AS A MEANS ABOUT WHICH THE TAPE IS ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED. 